Initially released on a limited vinyl run for 2025’s Record Store Day, Elton John’s Live From The Rainbow Theatre With Ray Cooper enjoys a wider release, available both digitally and on CD for the first time, alongside a vinyl reissue. Staged at London’s iconic Rainbow Theatre with percussion legend Ray Cooper for a six-show residency in May 1977, these shows began the pair’s short tour. It was the first time in five years that a full month had passed without an LP or a charted single from Elton John. It had also been eight months since his last performance.
What audience members experienced was not the typical Elton John concert. The first half of the set features just the singer at the piano; for the the second half, Ray Cooper joins the piano man; then John closes the show by himself. Forgoing the usual run of his many huge hits, this is a real treat for Elton John fans. Opening with the beautiful “The Greatest Discovery,” featuring its truly unique Bernie Taupin lyric (Elton’s only writing partner at this time) into “Border Song,” from his eponymous second studio album Elton John, John is in fine voice from beginning to end. He runs through a variety of deep cuts, something he promised he wants to do now, though his recent health problems might prevent this. We can only hope.
One of my all-time favorite Elton John songs is “Ticking,” a true highlight from his oeuvre. Ray Cooper comes on stage six songs in, beginning rumbling kettle drums on “Better Off Dead.” For those who have witnessed Cooper playing behind his big percussion set, you know the man is a well-dressed, wild presence who instantly draws you in with his gyrations and mugging. Not to mention he can play!
John’s piano playing is especially on point during “Tonight,” from his 1976 Blue Moves as Cooper’s bells add perfectly to this heart-wrenching, all-too-true relationship comment. “Roy Rogers,” sways along like a big movie landscape-of-a-tune, then we get “Dan Dare (Pilot Of The Future),” a real obscure tune. It sounds like there might be doubling of John’s voice here I didn’t hear any before; I’m not sure if there is any extra sweetening on this one. The disc closes with “Goodbye” from Madman Across The Water. A sure historical document in its own way as much as a gem of an intimate breath of fresh Elton John air, we can be thankful we are getting this wider release of Live From The Rainbow Theatre With Ray Cooper.
~ Ralph Greco, Jr.
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